Bull

Bulls were particularly prized as sacrifices on account of their considerable value. The sacrifice of a bull was especially associated with the sin offering.

Bulls offered as sacrifices

Exodus 29:36; 2 Samuel 6:12–13; Acts 14:13 Also used in pagan sacrifices. See also Numbers 23:1–4; Job 42:7–8; Psalm 66:15; Hebrews 9:13

Sacrifice a bull as a sin offering each day for atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it.

Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.

Instructions for the offering of a bull

Leviticus 4:13–21 See also Leviticus 1:3–9

Bulls sacrificed on significant occasions

Numbers 28:16–20 The Passover. See also Exodus 24:4–5 the covenant confirmed; Exodus 29:10–14; Leviticus 9:2, Leviticus 16:11–14 the Day of Atonement; Numbers 8:5–12, Numbers 29:12–13; 1 Samuel 1:24; 1 Chronicles 15:25–26, 1 Chronicles 29:21–22; 2 Chronicles 29:20–24; Ezra 6:9–10, Ezra 8:35; Ezekiel 43:19–27, Ezekiel 45:18–24

The fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD’s Passover. On the fifteenth day of this month, there shall be a feast; for seven days unleavened bread is to be eaten. On the first day there is to be a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. Present to the LORD a food offering, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all unblemished. The grain offering shall consist of fine flour mixed with oil; offer three-tenths of an ephah with each bull, two-tenths of an ephah with the ram,

Godly sacrifices in contrast to pagan ones

1 Kings 18:22–24 See also Judges 6:25–28

Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull for themselves, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. And I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. Then you may call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people answered, “What you say is good.”

Even the sacrifice of bulls invalid without the spiritual conditions being fulfilled

Psalm 69:30–31; Isaiah 1:11 See also Psalm 50:9, Psalm 50:13; Isaiah 66:3; Hosea 12:11

I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

Provisional nature of the OT sin offering of a bull

Hebrews 10:4

because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The bull as a symbol of strength

Deuteronomy 33:17 See also Psalm 22:12, Psalm 68:30

His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”